PlayStation.Blog

Players’ Choice: Vote for October’s best new game

O'Dell Harmon Jr. — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:00:44 +0000

Last month was filled with an extensive release of games ranging from high octane racing to covert missions! Some big new releases included Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Phantom Blade Zero, Silver Pines, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Which game was your favorite?

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog.

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

‘90s style sci-fi horror Derelikt launches Nov 13 on PS5

Philipp Jensen — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:00:26 +0000

Back in 1999, gaming was good. Games that were released late in the original PlayStation generation squeezed the last drop of performance out of the hardware, resulting in impressive visuals and all-time classics whose sequels we still play today. Fast forward 26 years and we’re excited to announce that our sci-fi horror game Derelikt will make you feel like your console shed 5 generations when it launches on PlayStation 5 on November 13.

Derelikt takes place aboard Von Neumann Outpost, grafted onto an anomalous asteroid discovered in Saturn’s orbit. Things are rough. The work is hard, home is a million miles away, and people are stressed out. Plus, a mysterious drone is driving everyone closer to their breaking point…

You arrive as an outside contractor tasked with finding out the fate of Excavation Team Delta, who went missing on the derelict surface. What you discover turns things from bad to worse fast! The halls are dark, the systems are failing, and the survivors that you come across aren’t telling the same story. Nailing that feeling of not being able to trust those around you, while simultaneously coming face to face with truly out-of-this-world horrors, was paramount for us.

The Von Neumann Outpost is well stocked with an arsenal of traditional weapons, and as you progress, you might even find a few more outlandish weapon prototypes and even alien weapons at your disposal. There are also over a dozen to interact with in Derelikt, each featuring their own secrets, and agendas. Some are useful, some are dangerous, some are doomed, and some (let’s be real, most) are all three!

We wanted to not only create this horrifyingly tense world full of scary moments and fast gunplay, but also make sure to make managing resources, exploration, dialogues and old-school puzzle solving a core part of the tension experience.

Derelikt is very much inspired by the PSOne-era of sci-fi horror, and it feels like a full-circle moment to be writing this today. The goal was to make it appear as if we found Derelikt on a CD-R in the dusty, long-abandoned storage unit of a defunct late-90s developer and simply ported it to modern platforms. I’m of the firm opinion that retro doesn’t have to mean crude and primitive, and I set out to create the most faithful homage to 5th generation graphics available on the market.

Our game features 100% lovingly hand-painted textures and vertex colour lighting. Affine Texture warping was deliberately implemented and mitigated in the next step by dynamically subdividing the geometry – just like the most high-end games of the era did – and the game also features retro-style full-motion CGI cutscenes. This way, a delicate balance was achieved – Derelikt looks aesthetically pleasing while still conceivably plausible on period hardware. Our team made a conscious effort to implement modern game design while keeping the core feeling and charm of that era of sci-fi horror intact, including an option for players to toggle on or off effects to match their particular taste.

Derelikt has been in development in some form since late 2021 and has had a turbulent and exciting development journey. We hope the game is as wild a ride for players as it has been to develop!

If you’re a fan of PSOne aesthetics, warping textures, geometry, heavy atmosphere, and a sense of unease, all set in the far reaches of space, then we think that you’ll love Derelikt! We hope that you’ll give it a shot, and you can pre-order the game today for a 10% discount, ahead of release.

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered fighter guide

Corey Brotherson — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:01:16 +0000

With its giant-sized fanbase, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered has plenty of players ready to get tooth, nail, and claw stuck into its PlayStation 5 release on November 3. Although it would be understandable that newcomers might feel a little intimidated choosing between 12 world crushing kaiju, each with their own stats, moveset, and special abilities. Never fear – we have the rundown on which colossus matches your playstyle to ensure you’re the true king of the monsters.

Heisei Godzilla

Ideal for: Players who want to dive straight in.

The face which sank a thousand ships. Godzilla is the iconic kaiju who all other kaiju want to be, beat, or be friends with. As the game’s default character, the giant lizard is balanced for newbies and veterans alike, with a high amount of starting health and decent all-round stats.

Godzilla also possesses a tail useful enough for a mighty wake-up strike when he’s downed, and some fairly swift claws, so many of his melee combos are effective for beginners. But don’t rely too much on his high-energy pulse – while it’s formidable, the slow charge leaves him open to counters. Similarly, ranged attackers can take advantage of his relatively sluggish projectiles, so close that distance or you’ll be heading back to Monster Island with your giant tail between your legs.

Godzilla 2000

Ideal for: Players annoyed at their friend for picking Heisei Godzilla.

In terms of film history, Godzilla 2000 is a more modern incarnation of the legendary lizard, reflecting a new era for the new millennium. Although he’s arguably a slightly more vulnerable version of his Heisei predecessor.

As a result, while Godzilla 2000 is a bit faster than his kaiju shoto fighter twin, he’s not quite as strong. He’s still fairly well balanced and arguably easier to use than Heisei, so makes for a solid alternative. And his distinctive purple dorsal plates look pretty cool, too.

King Ghidorah

Ideal for: Players who want to control the battlefield.

There’s a reason why this fearsome three-headed beast is seen as Godzilla’s archnemesis. Giant wings, gravity beams, and a desire to annihilate humanity, the threat of King Ghidorah should never be taken lightly.

Given his monstrous size it shouldn’t be a surprise that the ‘supreme ruler of the cosmos’ isn’t the fastest kaiju on the block, but he’s resilient and a perfect ‘zoning’ character, capable of keeping foes at a distance with a variety of projectiles. His flight is a little limited due to its energy drain, but it’s balanced by a lightning blast that has no charge while airborne. However, despite his colossal wings, Ghidorah’s lack of arms and stubby legs makes him a poor melee fighter.

Anguirus

Ideal for: Players who think defense is the best offense.

He might look a bit like Godzooky with more spikes, but mutant dinosaur Anguirus is one of Godzilla’s most loyal allies – even if his track record against other kaiju hasn’t been the best in the movies.

The Monster Island citizen is fast and aggressive, but his low power and lack of long-range attacks means Anguirus is best utilized as a counter-attack specialist. His block might be on the slow side due to its turning animation, but it actually damages an attacking opponent due to Anguirus’ rear spines. With his high defense and solid grappling skills, this mutant shouldn’t be underestimated.

Megalon

Ideal for: Players who love to hit and run.

Given its status as a guardian to the ancient underground civilisation of Seatopia, Megalon is more of an antagonist than an out-and-out villain in Godzilla lore. While not quite as domineering as its colossal rivals, the subterranean kaiju is still capable of putting a hurt on with its drill-like appendages.

Megalon’s primary advantage is its tunnelling skill which not only allows it to avoid attacks, but also pop-up and grab opponents. Even though burrowing uses energy, it still makes Megalon a difficult fighter to pin down, especially when used in tandem with its myriad of electricity attacks. On the flip side, Megalon isn’t the most durable of beasts with below average defense. Stick and move, or die.

Gigan

Ideal for: Players wanting to attack with deadly speed.

One of the most sadistic fighters to hail from M Space Hunter Nebula, cyborg kaiju Gigan is easily one of Godzilla’s more vicious adversaries. Despite being defeated multiple times, the hook-clawed Gigan just keeps coming back for more.

Unsurprisingly, Gigan’s tenacious approach makes him perfect for aggressive rushdown tactics. He’s not only swift, but his teleportation ability gives him incredible range and evasion skills. And those hooks aren’t for decoration either, delivering damage-heavy edged strikes. His Laser Eye is a little unwieldy, and he’s vulnerable to energy attacks, but Gigan remains a versatile option for anyone wanting a decent melee and range mix-up.

Destoroyah

Ideal for: Players wanting a classic tank character.

Known as ‘death incarnate’, everything about Destoroyah is built to intimidate. Giant wings, clawed hands, taloned feet… this mutant crustacean almost has it all.

Which is to say, Destoroyah is one of the more powerful creatures in the game with brutal physical assaults and a wide variety of high-damage – and often unblockable – energy attacks that truly make him the perfect mid-range monster. But there’s a cost. Destoroyah’s best abilities are extremely power hungry, so without them he’s potentially ineffective given how painfully slow his movement is.

Rodan

Ideal for: Players wanting speed above all else.

With his dominance of the skies and fearsome pteranodon looks, you’d be fooled into thinking Rodan is an out-and-out villain, but he’s more a force of chaos, even capable of being selfless in some parts of Godzilla lore.

True to type, Rodan is not only the fastest monster in the game, but also the most mobile in the air. With his powerful breath attack and speedy melee attacks, he’s another great hit-and-run character. However, Rodan has shockingly low durability, with the weakest defense of the entire roster, so going toe-to-toe is not recommended.

Mecha-King Ghidorah

Ideal for: Players wanting a long-range grappler.

When one possible future sees the three-headed beast defeated, his body is salvaged and rebuilt by 23rd century scientists to serve humanity. The result is a cyborg that merges Ghidorah’s ferocity with bionic enhancements, including a shield, and projectiles with draining abilities.

So while Mecha-King Ghidorah doesn’t quite have the raw power of his original form, his weapons are far more useful on a whole, and his grappling versatility is impressive. That said, he’s just as slow, and he relies on energy to maintain his best attacks including his shield, meaning Mecha-King Ghidorah can be vulnerable to powerful prolonged assaults.

Mechagodzilla

Ideal for: Players wanting a heavy duty ranged fighter.

Mechagodzilla is the alien Vortaak’s heavily weaponised answer to the fire-breathing giant lizard, in their attempt to conquer Earth. And with near indestructible space titanium, lasers, missiles, and even a plasma cannon, they’ve left very little to chance.

Unlike its Kiryu sibling, Mechagodzilla is more specialised, with a greater degree of weapons and better defensive stats. And let’s not forget its iconic flying head-butt. Mechagodzilla’s main issue? Its reliance on energy for flying and many of its ranged attacks – so if that’s depleted, the automaton is left with its underwhelming grabs and sluggish melee.

Orga

Ideal for: Players wanting the best grappler in the game.

A terrifying looking alien in its own right, Orga hasn’t many appearances in Godzilla media, but the goliath – mutated from some of Godzilla’s DNA – is able to hold its own… not least due to its venomous maw and gigantic hands.

It’s those mitts which make Orga a menace in the arena, with its long reach offering a massive advantage to close and mid-range confrontations. But while Orga isn’t the slowest of monsters, it’s still relatively sluggish, and limited against anyone resistant to blunt attacks, or too fast for grabs. And as useful as its paralysing goo is, the high energy cost can leave Orga exposed if it misses.

Kiryu

Ideal for: Players needing a more weapons-focused Godzilla.

What do you get when you place the original Godzilla’s skeleton inside of a robot body? In this case, a slightly unstable anti-kaiju cyborg designed to protect humanity. Kiryu (translated into ‘machine dragon” from the original kanji) is one of the more popular iterations of Mechagodzilla, and a heavily armoured walking, flying arsenal.

Compared to Mechagodzilla, Kiryu has better balanced stats, which makes it the optimal choice for those looking for a more weapons-ready, energy hungry version of the base Godzillas, with a punchy rage attack thanks to its Absolute Zero Cannon.

Ready to see if you can keep up with your chosen kaiju? Get smashing when Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered fights its way to PlayStation 5 on November 3.

20 years of PlayStation Store – devs share the great games that surprised them most

Tim Turi (he/him) — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:01:50 +0000

For 20 years, PlayStation Store has connected players with games of all shapes and sizes, from blockbuster adventures to indie delights and everything in between.

To mark the occasion, we asked developers from PlayStation Studios and third-party studios to reflect on a great game from the past 20 years that caught them by surprise. Not necessarily their favorite game of all time, but one they didn’t expect to enjoy as much as they did, or that won them over in an unexpected way.

You can also check out the 20 Years of PlayStation Store Showcase when it goes live today (11:00am local time), where you can explore deals on games and a curated selection of hand-picked hits.

Now, here’s what the developers shared regarding games from the past 20 years that surprised them:

Balatro | PS4 & PS5, 2024

“The game that comes to mind is Balatro. While it’s based on the simple, familiar rules of poker, I became completely hooked on the sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing your scores grow bigger and bigger through progression and different combinations.

It’s a truly compelling game that reminds me why games are so much fun to play in the first place.”
– Naoki Hamaguchi, Final Fantasy VII Remake Series Director, Square Enix

Dragon Quest XI: Echos of an Elusive Age | PS4, 2018

“Dragon Quest XI: Echos of an Elusive Age took me by surprise the first time I played it. Everything from the story to the character design and world has a charm to it that is hard to not love. Whenever the path ahead seemed clear, the game shattered the illusion with an unexpected twist. It is a wonderful hero’s journey with a very unique personality.”
– Jonathan Burke, Sr. Director of Technology, Santa Monica Studio

God of War | PS4, 2018

“A game I didn’t expect to love as much as I did was God of War (2018). It’s still mind-boggling to me that Santa Monica Studio was able to pull that off on the PlayStation 4.

However, it was the story that truly won me over. In the previous games, God of War 1, 2, and 3, Kratos was, in my humble opinion, largely defined by anger and rage, with very little emotional depth. But God of War (2018) changed that in a profound way. The themes of fatherhood, self-control, breaking toxic cycles, grief, and identity were not on my bingo card. However it delivered on all those emotional fronts exceptionally well.

Very few games have managed to balance incredible gameplay with a deeply compelling story the way God of War (2018) did.”
– Ramone Russell, Director, Product Development Communications & Brand Strategy, San Diego Studio

Inscryption | PS4 & PS5, 2022

“I was not ready for Inscryption. I thought it was just a creepy card-based tabletop game, and I gave it a try because I usually love these kinds of games. I found the complexity in how the cards and their modifiers interact fascinating and compelling. As someone who works on games with deep and complex stories, I appreciated how much the game trusts us as players to unpack the mysterious narrative (and game design!) on our own. Inscryption does something incredible: it starts as a seemingly simple, straightforward game that rewards persistence by revealing new layers of gameplay AND story at every step. It’s also very special to me as our dearly departed cat lives on as the ‘lil toot boi’ Build-a-Card. RIP, lil buddy.”
– Arne Meyer, Head of Culture and Communications, Naughty Dog

Inside | PS4, 2016

“Playdead’s Inside somehow came out over ten years ago. It has no UI and no dialogue and rolls out a completely unique experience with no obvious instructions at all, meticulously crafted to teach by way of ‘invisible hand’ that feels effortless. The visuals and audio perfectly reflect the ambiguous story that keeps you thinking about it for weeks (or a decade) after completion. It is a masterpiece.”
– Marcus Smith, Creative Director, Insomniac Games

Sayonara Wild Hearts | PS4, 2019

“The game that completely took me by surprise was Sayonara Wild Hearts! I am not one to gravitate to games with musical and rhythm elements as part of its primary gameplay loop. However as soon as I saw this game in motion it truly captivated me and drew me in with its colorful and unique style. As I jumped in, the story started drawing me more and more into its world as well as the amazing and dynamic setting. Soon enough I realized I was fully invested in a musical and rhythmic game, and I just could not just put it down until I completed the story. The great soundtrack just sealed the deal for me. I would recommend this game to anyone that may not usually play this style of game for sure; it was a truly memorable experience for me.”
– Bruno Velazquez, Game Director, Santa Monica Studio

Shadow of the Colossus | PS2, 2005

“I picked “Shadow of the Colossus”, originally launched in 2005 for PlayStation 2. With your horse and sword only, you gallop the plains in search of giant creatures to strike down to save your loved one, plunged into a deep slumber. The game is essentially David versus Goliath. Austere at first, the adventure celebrates heroic loneliness to perfection with epic battles, great technological prowess and a soundtrack that made history. A masterpiece.”
– Nicolas Doucet, the studio director, Team Asobi

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | PS3, 2009

“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) surprised me the most when I played it on PlayStation 3 because after being so hyped by the stage demo the game delivered something even more epic and impressive. Set piece after set piece was incredible, the production value, the charisma of the cast and how it felt like playing a blockbuster movie. It was everything I hoped the game would be as an excited PlayStation fan being so excited to play it.”
– Gregory Louden, Creative Director, Housemarque

—————-

What game from the past 20 years surprised you the most? Share your pick in the comments below, and let us know what made it memorable.

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 552: Pumpkins and Pines

O’Dell Harmon Jr. (he/him) — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:55:53 +0000

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hey, y’all! Sid, O’Dell, and Kristen are back this week to talk about the big games of October, some you might have missed, a blast from the past, and what remains this year.

Stuff We Talked About

Next week’s release highlights:
- Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered | PS5 (November 3)
- Let’s Sing 2027 | PS5 (November 3)
- Void/Breaker | PS5 (November 4)
- Escape Academy 2: Back to School | PS5 (November 5)
- Where The Seeds Fall | PS5 (November 5)
Helldivers 2 Liberty Day — Liberty Day was on October 26 in the Helldivers universe, and you can now celebrate with Super Merch (real-world items) to commemorate the occasion. Also, enjoy a host of in-game events and items, such as the AR-23L Liberator Legacy.
Where Winds Meet new arc — The new Hutuo narrative arc arrives on November 13, bringing the historic battlefield into the story. Prepare to charge into a war-ravaged land, where new enemies,weapons, fighting techniques, and mini-games await.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 — The first season of the latest installment kicks off on November 6. Gear up for all-new multiplayer stages, Backstab and Canyon, an undiscovered weapons facility in the DMZ, and a host of other updates across the entire game.
The Prism Collection — Three new transparent designs for DualSense controllers and PS5 console covers are coming on February 4. Enjoy the new see-through look in Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray, with pre-orders starting on November 10.
PlayStation Plus Monthly Games November
- Dead Island 2 | PS5, PS4
- Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered | PS5, PS4
- Monster Train 2 | PS5

The Cast

Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

Kristen Zitani – Content Communications Manager, SIE

O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Share of the Week: Costumes

Kristen Zitani (she/her) — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:00:50 +0000

Last week, we asked you dress up and share in-game costumes using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Here are this week’s highlights:

call_me_xavii shared Grace wearing the Lady Dimitrescu outfit in Resident Evil Requiem

WildJogurt shared Bond wearing a gold blazer in 007 First Light.

themarkplumb shared the Proxima outfit from Mortal Shell II

gh_holy_mash shared a panda costume from Onimusha: Way of the Sword

jobolts_ shares Lara in a mask for Dia De Los Muertos in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

kali_girlgamer shares Verso in a French beret and sunglasses in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Shadows
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on November 4, 2026

Next week, share characters lurking in the shadows from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

(For Southeast Asia) First look inside the Prism Collection, with three new transparent designs for PS5 accessories

Isabelle Tomatis — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:03:29 +0000

Get ready to see your PS5 console and DualSense controller in a whole new way. Today, we are pleased to introduce the Prism Collection, featuring three striking transparent designs for DualSense wireless controllers and PS5 console covers: Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray.

The new collection was inspired by our design teams’ interest to bring a transparent appearance to PS5, and give players a closer look into the design and craftsmanship behind our DualSense controllers and PlayStation 5 consoles. From bold Flare Orange to elegant Emerald Green and stylish Graphite Gray, each color is finished with a premium glossy sheen for a sleek and elevated design.

The luminous Flare Orange brings a bold and vibrant aesthetic to a PS5 setup.

The elegant Emerald Green features a silky green exterior.

The classy Graphite Gray presents a refined gray design.

The Prism Collection brings a fresh new look to the PS5 console and DualSense controllers. To share more about our creative process behind the new design, here are insights from Leo Cardoso and Satoshi Aoyagi from our Color, Material, and Finish design team.

“We know how much our fans have been looking forward to the return of transparent controllers. We wanted to bring back the iconic see-through trend of the late ’90s in a fresh, modern way that complements the PS5’s industrial design.”
– Leo Cardoso

“The high-gloss clear finish extends across the back of the controller, offering a look at the technology that powers the DualSense controller while maintaining a sleek, monochromatic look.

The metallic finish on the middle cover brings the contrasting surfaces together for a premium appearance that feels consistent with the PS5 generation.

To complement the futuristic aesthetic, we carefully selected three distinct colors: a vibrant orange that subtly takes on a rosy hue where the transparent material overlaps, a deep hunter green that gains depth through its transparency, and a cool-toned storm gray.”
– Satoshi Aoyagi

The Prism Collection DualSense wireless controllers will be available globally for a recommended retail price (RRP) of SGD 115 / MYR 419 / THB 2,890 / IDR 1,549,000 / PHP 5,699 / VND 2,399,000. *

The matching PS5 console covers will be available in limited quantities through select retailers for a RRP of SGD 101 / MYR 369 / THB 2,590 / IDR 1,359,000 / PHP 5,099 / VND 2,099,000. *

The Prism Collection launches starting on February 4, 2027. The exact launch date and availability for the accessories may vary by country/region.

*Actual retailer prices and availability may vary

Phantom Blade Zero: How boss weapons transform combat and exploration

Phil Hornshaw — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Phantom Blade Zero blends influences from a variety of sources to create intense, fast-paced combat and a supernaturally infused Kungfupunk world. It draws on the tough, powerful bosses of Soulslikes, the quick, combo-focused combat of hack-and-slash games, the fascinating stories and characters of RPGs, and the unlockable exploration of search action games.

All those ideas come together to create something familiar and unexpected, reworking common action-RPG elements into beautiful, fast-paced battles across a strange, devastated world.

Mixing aggression and defense

While Phantom Blade Zero’s combat evokes games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Bloodborne, it takes a more hybrid approach, channeling Wuxia stories and kung-fu movies. You’re not just using R1 to dodge, holding L1 to block blows, or tapping L1 to parry them; you also need to press attack, using Square for basic attacks and Triangle for more powerful blows to create simple but effective combos and force your opponent to block and parry as well.

It’s all about managing a meter measuring your Sha-Chi. Blocking attacks depletes your Sha-Chi, and if it runs out, you can be staggered and left open to attack — but perfectly parrying, and dodging and landing blows knocks down your opponent’s Sha-Chi instead, letting you cut through their defenses.

You can quickly refill your Sha-Chi by pressing Left on the D-Pad to swap between your two equipped main weapons. The system pushes you to string attacks together from both weapons, or to swap as you end your strikes so you’re ready to start parrying.

As you land attacks, you also earn Sha-Chi Essence. When it’s fully charged, you can unleash a Power Surge attack with L2 that overpowers your opponent, interrupts their attacks, and deals massive damage. All those elements, combined with powerful Phantom Edge weapons that have specific but limited uses, work together to turn battles into a fluid dance that constantly moves between attack and defense. And thanks to haptic feedback in the DualSense controller, you feel those clashing blades, adding intensity that shows how powerful and lethal their blows can be.

Using the weapons of the enemy

One of the best parts of Phantom Blade Zero is the way it dishes out new weapons. Instead of finding swords in treasure chests or buying them from merchants, you claim most of your weapons from bosses you defeat. You get to see exactly how a weapon works as you defend against its unique capabilities, then try those capabilities yourself.

For instance, after you defeat the boss Hua, Deadly Betrothed, you can claim her Scarlet Wraithblade, which summons spider lilies on the ground as you complete combos that slow down enemies and let you control the battlefield.

The White Serpent and Crimson Viper are dual-wielded swords, and you can use each one’s separate combo, or mix them together for different effects that let you use one sword up close and send the other spinning in circles around you.

Each weapon offers its own fighting style, special combos, and status effects, like causing enemies to bleed for extra damage or allowing you to siphon their life. With so many varied combat options, you’ll constantly want to try different weapons and see how they exploit the weaknesses of the tough bosses you’ll face.

Uncovering the mysteries of the Wulin

Exploration is also a big part of the experience. The game is full of side quests and stories to chase down that flesh out the Wulin, the game’s world, and the characters you meet along the way.

Each area you visit is expansive, with lots of side paths and secrets to find. Often, you’ll come across areas you can’t reach yet, encouraging you to backtrack later after finding an essential item. Some paths are blocked by specific Phantom Edge weapons that you’ll earn from defeating bosses, making it possible to smash through a barrier or grapple up to a distant location.

Phantom Blade Zero ties its storytelling, exploration, and combat together by rewarding you for your curiosity. Exploring new areas will often advance old side quests and uncover new ones. Discovering Blue Memory Flowers scattered throughout the world gives you glimpses into the past that unlock the stories of the places you visit. Finding all the flowers for a given story also increases Soul’s health, making him more powerful for the next battle.

A dark and tragic world

The Kungfupunk aesthetic informs not only how Phantom Blade Zero looks, but also the stories you find within it — it’s a dark place, constantly steeped in tragedy. Those stories lead to epic, varied boss fights against powerful martial artists and corrupted, monstrous characters.

Hua, Deadly Betrothed, is an early optional boss who forces you to stay aware of your surroundings as she summons deadly spider lilies that sap your strength and stagger you, leaving you open to massive blows from her huge sword. Once you defeat her, you learn about how she was used by the man she was to marry, and her rage resulted in the massacre of the entire wedding party.

Other characters represent the powers hunting Soul throughout the game, whose motivations are slowly uncovered through flashbacks as you push forward. Jing Ye, The Outlaw, comes at you on horseback and employs dirty tricks, throwing dirt in your face to obscure your vision as he tries to run you down. When you finally knock him off his mount, he comes at you with a spiked shield that damages you when you attack, and a huge sword he’ll try to bury in your flesh to absorb your blood and heal himself.

And then there are characters with their own agendas, like the Gold-Masked One, a man you encounter in the strange illusory realm of the Discordance, played by actor and martial arts legend Donnie Yen. As you learn more about his shadowed story, he challenges you to vicious duels, using sword slashes, kicks, punches, and powerful, unblockable throws to rip through your life meter.

Developer S-Game’s attention to detail in each boss gives you a glimpse into their backstories, even as you fight them. Those tidbits help flesh out its world as much as the side quests and characters you’ll help along the way. Through these tragic stories, you quickly discover that the world of Phantom Blade Zero is harsh; not everyone you face in battle is evil, and you won’t be able to help everyone who needs you.

But at least you can take down the frightening monsters tormenting the innocent, one furious, beautiful battle at a time. Test your skills against the foes of the Wulin when Phantom Blade Zero hits PlayStation 5 on October 29.

Modern Warfare 4 Season 1: Everything you need to know for November 6 launch

Daniel Noel — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:15:17 +0000

Get ready for Season 1, with new maps, modes, events and rewards across Multiplayer and DMZ. Explore the unforgiving corridors of X01, wield new weapons and attachments, acquire new Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, DMZ Survival Kits, and more. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 goes live on November 6

New Multiplayer maps and modes

Take the fight in Multiplayer across three new maps at Season 1 launch. Brave inclement weather across the all-new war torn Backstab, where abandoned tanks litter the landscape and drone ordinance line the shelves of a deserted dwelling. Battle amidst towering rock walls in the all-new Canyon and try your luck along the River near the Convoy Ambush or take the Cliff Path for its winding pathways. Drop into a reimagined Shoot House against the rugged terrain of North Korea during a snowfall.

Also, at Season 1 launch, play the fan-favorite Grind mode where you eliminate players, recover their dog tags, and take them to the Bank to score for your team. Plus, Drop Zone mode returns where teams fight to hold a single rotating objective with periodic Killstreak packages airdrop over the Drop Zone.

In the Mid-Season, we drop additional new maps and modes. Battle erupts at the all-new Ministry, causing damage to an embassy as you fight in and around the building on this diplomatic summit.

Overflow is the new map centered around a factory and its surrounding farmland. Counter Attack is a new mode where your focus is detonating bombs at the enemy Comm Station while protecting your own from attack.

DMZ’s new X01 weapon facility

A formerly undiscovered weapons facility —codenamed X01 — has recently been seized by enemy forces. X01’s maze of tunnels and shifting hazards calls for careful planning, specialized equipment, and squad coordination. Expect new and powerful equipment and as the facility starts to close off extraction points, complete the required steps to escape, or else! In addition, expect multiple pages of new DMZ Orders inside X01 with plenty to uncover on deployment along, Threat Briefing to take down DMZ’s biggest Boss threats from Commanders and more, and Resupply Runs.

New Warzone maps

Play across two new maps in Call of Duty: Warzone as the Season 1 update brings both Hajin and Zodiac with additional game modes, gameplay features, and more. More intel to arrive soon, including full roadmap covering everything coming to Call of Duty: Warzone in Season 1.

General content updates

Expand your arsenal of weapons with the arrival of the Cronen Osprey Assault Rifle and the CSG-35 SMG in the Season 1 Battle Pass. The Cronen Osprey combines speed with moderate power for an Assault Rifle that’s quick and reliable on the frontlines. The CSG-35 SMG excels at putting down enemies fast at close ranges as it features the highest fire rate in its class

The Season 1 Battle Pass is packed with 100+ pieces of unlockable content with an all-new catch-up system that guarantees 50+ rewards for those who purchase it. In addition to the normal unlocking of Battle Pass content, players who fall behind in the premium Battle Pass will be automatically caught up to the Reward matching the current day of the season, up to day 50. In addition, the Battle Pass itself is simpler to navigate, too: Log in to collect your rewards and keep playing to unlock a linear 100-tier track filled with additional Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, Finishing Moves, and more.

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for November: Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered, Monster Train 2

Adam Michel — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:31:43 +0000

Tackle the sun-kissed undead, uncover ancient relics, and jump aboard a train for a deckbuilding journey through Heaven, Hell and beyond. Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered, Monster Train 2 form your PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for November, with all available to play from Tuesday November 3 to Monday, November 30.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the games.

Dead Island 2 | PS5, PS4

Welcome to HELL-A. The City of Angels has been transformed into a hellish sprawl, its populace now mutated into disgusting zombies with an insatiable appetite for humans. In this extensive, visceral RPG experience you’ll journey to iconic LA locations, taking on quests, meeting eccentric survivors and enjoying a joyously pulpy narrative along the way. The game’s brutal melee combat gives you access to an expansive array of inventive zombie-slaying weaponry that lets you slice, smash and tear through the hordes before they get the chance to do the same to you. Explore the game’s expansive world alone, or practice strength in numbers in online three-player co-op to increase your chances of survival.

Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered | PS5, PS4

Play the next series of Tomb Raider adventures in this remastered collection of the Darkness Trilogy, which includes

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.

Monster Train 2 | PS5

This single player deckbuilding roguelite sees you command clans formed of a makeshift alliance between former angels and demons, as they work together to oust powerful beings known as Titans, who have seized control of Heaven. Now, you must command these clans aboard newly forged trains, and embark on your journey through Hell, Heaven, and the Abyss, to defeat the Titans before they destroy this world. Choose from a selection of five brand new clans, each with its own unique strengths and gameplay to forge strategies fitting your personal playstyle. With three vertical levels to defend against dangerous new enemies, you’ll need to recruit powerful new units, upgrade cards, and experiment to survive.

Last chance to add the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October

PlayStation Plus members have until Monday November 2 to add the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October –

F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 – to their library.